Educational device



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Indiz/@uab 6in@ S. CODY EDUCATIONAL DEVICE Fil'ed Dec. 12. 1922 Rewrragrama.: :mailer w dorrw 27 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 10, 1925.

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EDUCATIONAL DEVICE Filed Dec. l2. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov.10, 1925.

.Cees reali-Kinerase relief npUoa'rioNAL nnvrcn.

Application filed -IDecennber 12, 1922, Serial No. 606,508.

To all whom t may conce/m:

Be it lmown that l, SHERWIN Coni', a citizen of the United StatesofvAmerica, re siding at Tompkin'svi-lle, Staten Island, in the countyof'Richmond and State of New York, have v'invented 'certain new anduseful Improvements in Educational fDevices, of which the following .is'awspeciication In the art of education, more particularly in rclassroominstruction and study where one teacher is responsible for tento fiftyor more pupils in tif group, methods commonly used result in what may betermed averaged instruction, that is, in instruction suited to theaverage needs of the various members of the class, though if there wereteachers enough andtimeenough, the ideal would be individual instructionfor each pupil. v

My invention is intended to provide a new record sheet by means of whicheach pupil maysee at a glance-,what points he had right on each testexercise and what points Ahe had wrong, and so receive as anassigninentfor r study merely the points on which he was wrong as shown by apreliminary test given before study, as well as on tests after study, sorthat he `may concentrate-his attention'exclusively on'his weak points,progressively eliminating` study of those he has'mastered, until everypoint is mastered to the 100% point. rllhis system is particularlyapplicable to such subjects as spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.which pupilslhave vlargely mastered already, but on which most or allmembers ofa class groupA have some weaknesses whichneed concentratedattention of a strictly individual'kind.

F or example, suppose Vthe spelling of a list of twenty words isassignedto 4a class group as an exercise. `-Probably every member ofthe. class willA know how to spell some of these words even before anystudy whatever, and many will know howto spell all but two or' threewords. Yet all .members'are asked to study 'all words. `The result is,first a serious waste of'time in studying that which is knownalreadyhand the few words that do need'conceiitrated atten tion fail toget it beca-use ofthe time wasted on those thatdo not need it. ',Butthere isfa still further danger, namely that fthe conscious study ofvords lready "spelled correctly unconsciously will result in'con'fus'ien and the actual learning "of misspelling.

When a pupil is asked to study the spelling of'an'y Wordhe'feelstha'tthere'must be some reason for it. Since theonly thing "he canlearn about'that word 'is/to spel-l iti'ncon rectly, Ythis is'what, inhis confusion, he too often actually does do.`

YBy 4use of my device, pupils in -a class group would be asked towriteall wlords from dictationvv before vstudy in 'a special l blankcolumn provided for the purpose. The spelling' of the words would'thenbe checkedbyithe teacher, or`by' theV pupil lhimself as the teacherdictated'the correct spelling, or` byc'omparison with 'a `key list," anderrors Would'be cheeked'in a special adjoining column provided forthe'purpose.y VIn another adjoining-column 'the words misspelled mightbe written correctlyY by lthe pupil, or the checkmarks might be found tocome automatically opposite the words ina key list where the correctspelling'ivuld be found printed. In either case the pupil receives anassignment for study consisting exclusively of words on which he hasshown weakness before study." vIn other blank checking columns may b erecorded the results of subsequentindividual"testsi' For example, thepupils in aclass group may be divided into pairs, and'each pupil in apair will test -his `fellow pupil on the 4words checked in that pupilsbook as his individual assignment, and in turn the second pupil would4test the first onvhis individual list'of misspelled words. Thus, bymeans kof ,a regular system, carried out according to specificinstructions, each pupil would receive automatically his individualassignment for study, and Vwould be kept individuallyfon those pointsuntil he had eliminated all errors. The common method of averagedinstruction would be transformed into strictly individual instruction,even when one teacher must handle fifty or more pupils at one time.Moreover, fevery pupil is provided with a permanent record of everymistake Ahe has ever made on any lesson, helsees'how many times yhe* hasmade the same mistake', and atfut-ure times he may review precisely thepoints on which he has previously had difficulty, without having togoover all the thousands of points ofcomplete assignments in order to siftout the fewvon whichhe has particular trouble. The lack ofa'permanentconvenient'` recordofevery error made on every llO CII

point of every lesson has been a serious handicap to the success of allour school 1nn struction.

lVith the above general objects in view and others that will appear asthe nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists ofthe novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter morefully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a face View of an individual study assignment sheetconstructed in accordance with the present invention for use inconnection with the teaching of spelling,

Figure 2 is a face view of a similar sheet wherein the same principle isinvolved, with a form adapted to the teaching of grammar,

Figure 3 is a face view of a rmodified form of the sheet which includesa folder leaf that may be moved to an extended position so as to show acolumn having the correct spelling of the words printed therein oppositethe areas in which errors had been checked in the spelling of the samewords when written from dictation in the blank column of the part of thesheet folded over, and

Figure 4 is a `face view of the sheet shown in Figure 3 with the leafmoved to its folded position so as to show the blank column in which thewords would be written while the correct spelling in the key wasconcealed underneath.

Briefly described, the above objects are accomplished by combining intoa balanced system three procedures that have always been common in theclass room, but for some reason or other have never before been combinedsystematicaliy 0r provided with an adequate method of recording. Theinven tion consists in combining these three elements on a leaf or sheetwhich in multiplicity may be bound up into a book, of which a copy willbe placed in the hands of every pupil, and which, when used according todirections printed on the leaf or in association therewith, will becomehis individual record of work and progressive assignment of material forstudy.

The three elements of procedure are:

l. A. space where a column of exercises may he written on a sheet ofpaper in orderly form at the dictation or direction of a teacher with aview to having points of error checked and so a portion selected forindividual study;

2. A space where the correct form of work which has been writtenerroneously may be set down as the material for actual study, eitherrewritten in corrected form in a blank space provided for the purpose,or found in correct printed form as a key lopposite the spaces in whicherrors were checked when the entire material was written as a test; and

3. Adjoining these exercise spaces a number of columns progressivelydesignated and divided into areas directly opposite the various items ofthe exercise, in which errors may be checked according to directionsassociated with them, and including directions to the eli'ect that studyis to be concentrated exclusively on the items checked as subject toerror, and when the pupil is tested on these items that errors stillmade should be vv.'f-ee,kcd in the next column, which checkings become afresh assignment for study, and so on progressively until the wholeoriginal assignment may be handled by the pupil without error. theprogressive tests may be written on separate sheets of paper, or may bemade orally, but in each case the results should be progressiveiyrecorded in the proper columns according to the directions. ln practice,me pupils are paired oil' and one tests another on his individual weakpoints.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings, and particularlyto F igure i, the device illustrated embodies a sheet or leaf of papersuitable to have an exercise written upon it with either pen or pencil.This may be titled at the top Individual study assignment blank. On thissheet 1s printed a blank form separating the space into three essentialareas. Beginning at the lefthand side, there is a blank column Aindicated by the reference numeral l, suited to have a series ofexercises written in it. At the top of it are directions 2 orinstructions to the elfect that the exercise material shall be writtenin that column before study. Adjoining it on the right is a narrowcolumn 3 headed with the figure l and the words Check errors, in whichevery erroneous item of the exercise written in column A shall hechecked either by the teacher or by the pupil at the direction ordictation of the teacher. At the right of this narrow column is a widercolumn 4. designated B in which `all erroneous exercises discovered incolumn A are to be rewritten correctly, according to directions 5 whichappear at the top of this column. Still further to the right areadditional narrow checking columns 6 designated at the top 2, 3, Ll,etc., similar to the checking column l with instructions 'i' at the topof them to the effect that the exercises found in column B as theindividual study assignment shall be tested (either orally or by writingon a separate sheet of paper) and errors still made checked in colA umnheaded 2 as a freslrassignment for study, while on test of thisassignment errors still made shall be checked in column head ed 8, andso on till all errors have beer progressively eliminated.

Observe that it is convenient though not lt is to be understood thatessential that horizontal lines across these columns, designated in theillustration by reference number 8, should segregate areas right acrossthe page that shall be suited to carry each exercise through all of thevarious steps if necessary. rlhese may be conveniently numbered from topto bottom 1, 2, 3, etc., at the lefthand side of column A, and forconvenience the corresponding numbers may be found in column B.

In Figure 1 we see a list of words 9 written in column A. In checkcolumn 1 we see check marks 10 against four of these words to indicatethat they are misspelled as written in column A. In column B these fourwords are rewritten as at 11 with correct spelling as the individualassignment for study. We see checkmarks 12 against one of the words inchecking columns 2 and 3, and against one of the words there arecheckmarks in columns 2, 3 and 1l. rlhe checksin each of these columnsconstitute fresh lassignments for study of these words until on thethird assignment one of them is mastered and on the fourth assignmentthe other also.

A variation of the above described sheet is .shown in Fig. 2. In columnA of this form of the invention the exercises are printed, and thedirections are varied to call for crossing out the wrong form when twoor more are given in parentheses. Errors are tto be checked in checkingcolumn headed 1,`as in Figure 1, and the correct form written in columnB, according to directions 5 at the head of this column. rlhis exercise1s upon the grammatical use of these forms in sentences similar to thesentences in column A. In the space above checking columns 2, 3, 4l,etc., there are therefore directions 7 asking pupils to compose originalsentences in which the forms written in column B .are correctly used,and to check errors in columns 2,' 3, il, ctc., until all forms can beused freely without error, each exercise being eliminated as anassignmentefor study as it is found to be mastered. @f course theexercise sentences called for in the instructions would be written onseparate sheets of paper or would be composed orally.

Another form of the invention is shown in Figures 3 and 4l, wherein afolded sheet is employed. While this form of sheet is adaptable forvarious subjects of study, the improved art of teaching spelling` isillustrated in connection therewith. Figure 3 shows the face of thesheet unfolded, in which the space at the left where exercise column Aappears in Figure 1 is blank and column B shows the exercise 13 printedin correct form as a key. Checking column 1 appears at the righthandside of column B adjoining columns 2 etc. Figure l shows the same sheetwith the portion 14 at the left folded over on the space yoccupied bycolumn B. This folded part provides the space for column A, withdirections to write the exercises below as in the previous illustration.The exercise spaces 15 numbered vertically 1, 2, 3, ll, 5, etc.,correspond accurately to the spaces shown in column B in Figure 3, inwhich the correct spelling of the words is printed as a key, while thechecking spaces 16 in checking columns 1, 2, 3, 4l, etc. correspondaccurately to the exercise spaces in both columns A and B. lVhen columni folded over on column B as shown in Figure a, this flyleaf concealsthe correct spelling' of the words in column ll and pupils write theirown idea of the correct spelling in the blank spaces of column A as theteacher dictates to them the list of words in column B in the order `inwhich they there appear. Errors are checked in checking column 1, asdescribed in connection with Figures 1 and 2, and when the foldedportion of the lealI is lifted the pupil vfinds that the checkmarksdesignate Vhis individual assignment for study according to directionsprinted at the top of this portion of the sheet as shown. in Figure 3.lllords checked in column 1 are tested and errors still made are checkedin column 2 as a fresh assignment for study, and so on in the successivecolumns until all errors are eliminated.

It may be stated that the directions need not necessarily be printed atthe top of the page, but may appear at the bottom, or one side, or on aseparate sheet associated with the blanks.

This application presents a novel device in the union of the variouselements on a single recording sheet, by which the common educationalpractice of averaged instruction for a class group is elevated to thelevel of automatic individual instruction on a :practical working basisthrough dilferent forms of the invention as here set forth, so thatoneteacher can carry on the individual instruction of ten to fifty or morepupils simultaneously in a class group. It is to be noted that thisapplication continues and presents in part the subject-matter of theoriginally allowed application Serial No. 113,010 which referred only tospelling, and also applications Serial Nos. 371,85() and 371,351, inwhich it was intended to extend the prin ciples of original applicationSerial No. 113,010 to other subjects than spelling and show improvementsand advantages therev over. A form of thisinvention suited toinstruction by correspondence, applied for after the originalapplication, is disclosed in Patent No. 1,281,295, issued Oct. 15, 1918.

What I claim as new is 1. In a teaching device, a sheet employed as anindividual assignment for study having areas delined thereon which areadapted lll() to receive a school exercise With a progressive record of'tests upon the exercise, comprising an area in which an exercise n bewritten by a pupil and corresponding areas in progressively designatedcolumns iu which errors made on successive tes upon the originalexercise iiiay be recorded, and having associated therewith instructions'tc-r concentrating study upon the subject ot errors checked in thesuccessive col after each test as so many successive assignments forstudy.

2. ln a teaching device, a sheet empio as an individual assignment i'orstudi" ing areas delined thereon which are adapted to receive a schoolexercise with a progressive record t tests upon the er reise, comprisingan area in which an e" i be vfriten by a pupil as a test before stud ian adjacent column in which errors upon this t may b cnecked, anotheradyacenL space in whicl may be written` the correct torni oi any itemupon which error was made iu the preliminary test, as an individualignmcnt tor study, and a plurality ot progressively designated checkingcolumns in which may be recorded errors made in successive tests uponthis individual assignment, and having associated therewith instructionstor the use of these various areas according to the purpose tor whichthey are intended.

3. In a teaching device, a sheet employed as an individual assignmenttor study having areas delined thereon which are adapted to receive aschool exercise with a progressive record of tests upon the exercise,comprising horizontally alined areas ior respectively receiving fromleft to right, an exercise to be written by a pupil as a test beforestudy, the correct form otl the exercise upon which an error has beenmade in the previous test as an individual assignment for study, and thechecking of errors made upon each test, the area receiving the checkscomprising a plurality of progressively designated checking columns inwhich are recorded errors made in successive tests upon the individualpreliminary assignment for study,

and having associated therewith instructions for the use of thesevarious areas according to the purpose for which they :ire intended.

Ll. An educational de 'ice tor teaching spelling and progressivelyrecording the results thereof, comprising a leaiC adapted to have acolumn of Words placed thereon, said leat' having a plurality ot'columns progressively numbered at the heads thereof, and containing instctions icr successively checking a' successively misspelled word inprogressively' numbered columns tor the elimination 'for words for studyupon which. errors are no longer made.

An. educational device for teaching :f-:oellii j and progressivelyrecording the results thc-reci1 consisting oi' e. lealf adapten to havea column ot words written thereon, said leaic having a plurality ofcolumns progressively numbered'at the heads thereof and containinginstructions for checking successively misspelled words as an individualassignment for study in the progressively numberedv columns each columnbeing numerically designated for each repetition of the exercise to thepoint of mastery.

6. An educational device for teaching a subject of study andprogressively recording the results thereof comprising a sheet dividedinto upper and lower block portions, the lower block portion beingdivided into vertical columns, one of said vertical columns beingprogressively numbered at the head thereof with the space below providedwith vertical rows of check receiving areas alined with said numbers,the upper block of the sheet containing instructions for checking in theprogressively numbered rows errors made upon the original exercise andthe other of the vertical columns having a caption designating thecharacter of the exercise and having areas for receiving the exercisehorizontally alined with the check receiving areas.

In testimony whereof I ali-ix my signature.

SHERWIN CODY.

